Chapter 24

The morning was quiet, and Sylvester sat in his study, buried in paperwork. His mind was a whirlwind of stress. Work, the mounting threats, and keeping Melinda safe had taken a toll on him. Despite everything, he was determined to keep life as normal as possible—for both of them.

Outside, a car pulled up, tires crunching against the gravel driveway. Inside, Albert, Sylvester’s trusted butler, was dusting the antique furniture when the sharp, distinct sound of the doorbell echoed through the house. Albert hesitated for a moment—guests were not expected. He set down the dust cloth, smoothed out his jacket, and walked briskly toward the door.

When he opened it, his eyes widened in surprise. Standing before him were two uniformed police officers, their faces grim and professional.

“Good morning,” Albert said, his voice wavering slightly. “May I help you?”

One of the officers stepped forward, flashing his badge. “Good morning, sir. We’re here to speak with Mr. Sylvester. Is he home?”

Albert’s heart raced. The police? What could they want with Sylvester? “Yes, officers, he’s in his study. May I ask what this is regarding?”

The officer’s expression remained stoic. “We’ll explain everything to Mr. Sylvester. Please lead the way.”

Swallowing his nerves, Albert nodded and turned to lead them down the hall. The sound of their heavy boots against the polished wooden floor seemed unnaturally loud, and by the time they reached the study door, Albert’s hands were shaking.

He knocked softly, peeking in. “Mr. Sylvester, the police are here to see you.”

Sylvester looked up from his desk, his brow furrowing in confusion. “The police?” He stood and straightened his suit jacket. “Let them in, Albert.”

Albert held the door open for the officers, then stepped aside, his unease palpable as he watched them approach Sylvester.

Sylvester, ever the businessman, met them with a calm but firm tone. “Officers, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

One of the officers, a tall, broad man with a stern expression, stepped forward. “Mr. Sylvester, we’re here following a report made by a distressed mother. She claims her daughter is missing and believes you may be involved in her disappearance.”

Sylvester’s face hardened with disbelief. “A missing person? I assure you, officers, I have nothing to do with any disappearance.”

The second officer, a shorter, sharp-eyed woman, held out a piece of paper. “We received this report from a Lori Thompson. She claims her daughter, Melinda Thompson, has been missing for some time now, and her last known location was near your property. She believes you’ve taken her.”

Sylvester’s breath caught in his throat for a moment. Melinda’s mother. Of course. This was Lori’s doing. He fought to keep his composure, his mind racing. “There’s been a misunderstanding,” Sylvester began carefully. “Yes, I know Melinda, but she is not missing, nor is she here against her will.”

The tall officer’s eyes narrowed. “So, you’re saying you know where she is?”

Before Sylvester could respond, the door to the study creaked open, and Melinda stepped in. Her presence was calm but assertive, and she quickly took in the scene before her—the officers, Sylvester, and the tense atmosphere. Her heart sank as she realized what was happening.

“I’m here,” Melinda said softly, stepping forward. “I’m the one you’re looking for.”

The officers turned to her, surprise flickering across their faces.

“Melinda,” Sylvester began, but she gently raised a hand, signaling for him to let her speak.

“Officers, I understand why my mother is worried,” Melinda continued, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “But I’m not missing, and I’m not in any danger. I’ve been staying here by my own choice. No one has kidnapped me.”

The tall officer glanced between Melinda and Sylvester, his suspicion visibly wavering. “Your mother reported you missing, Miss Thompson. She’s deeply concerned for your safety.”

“I know,” Melinda replied, her voice softening. “And I’m so sorry for worrying her, but I needed space for a while. I haven’t been in contact with her, and that was my choice. Mr. Sylvester hasn’t done anything wrong.”

The sharp-eyed officer stepped forward, her voice more gentle now. “Miss Thompson, we have to take reports like this very seriously. Your mother is in distress, and she’s convinced that something terrible has happened to you.”

Tears welled up in Melinda’s eyes, and she struggled to keep her composure. “I never wanted her to feel that way. Please, tell her I’m okay. I just… I need to handle some things on my own right now. But I promise you, I’m safe.”

The room fell into a brief silence, the tension slowly dissolving as the officers absorbed her words. Sylvester, standing by, felt a wave of relief wash over him. For a moment, he had feared this situation might spiral out of control, but Melinda had diffused it with grace.

The tall officer nodded slowly, his demeanor softening. “If that’s the case, Miss Thompson, then you should reach out to your mother. She’s been beside herself with worry. We’ll report back to her, but it’s important that she hears from you directly.”

“I will,” Melinda promised. “As soon as I can.”

The shorter officer folded the report and tucked it away. “We’ll inform your mother that you’re safe and not in any danger. But please, don’t wait too long to contact her. She’s been through a lot.”

Melinda nodded, her expression filled with regret. “Thank you, officers. I’ll make sure to reach out to her.”

The officers exchanged a glance, then turned back to Sylvester. The tall officer gave a respectful nod. “Mr. Sylvester, we appreciate your cooperation. It seems this was just a misunderstanding, but we had to follow protocol.”

Sylvester returned the nod, his voice steady. “I understand, officers. I would never harm Melinda or anyone else.”

With that, the officers made their way toward the door, Albert stepping forward to escort them out. As they left, the air in the room grew lighter, the palpable tension slowly dissipating.

Once the front door closed behind them, Melinda let out a long, shaky breath and turned to Sylvester. “I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t think it would come to this.”

Sylvester walked over to her, his expression softening. “It’s not your fault, Melinda. Your mother was just worried, and she acted out of fear. I’m just glad we were able to clear things up.”

“I’ll call her,” Melinda said, wiping at her eyes. “I’ll explain everything. I never wanted to put her through this.”

Sylvester nodded, his voice gentle. “That’s probably for the best. The sooner she knows you’re safe, the better.”

Melinda offered him a small, grateful smile. “Thank you for handling that so calmly. I was scared it would get out of hand.”

Sylvester sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I won’t lie, it was touch and go for a moment there. But it’s over now. You just focus on making things right with your mother.”

As Melinda turned to leave the study and find her phone, Sylvester leaned back against his desk, the weight of the past hour settling heavily on him. The threats, the police visit, Melinda’s complicated relationship with her mother—it was all beginning to pile up. But for now, the immediate danger had passed, and he was grateful for that small mercy.

“Albert,” Sylvester called softly as the butler returned from seeing the officers out. “Make us some tea. I think we could both use it.”

Albert nodded, his usual calm demeanor restored. “Of course, sir. Right away.”